Gestão de contratos na Universidade Federal da Paraíba: proposta de Procedimento Operacional Padrão (POP)

Abstract

Effective management of public resources is a key mechanism for achieving constitutional goals, by ensuring higher quality, progressivity, and transparency in public spending, while strengthening oversight by society and control bodies. In this context, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have proven to be effective tools for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as for promoting accountability in the management of public funds. This study aimed to propose strategies to optimize contract management and the issuance of commitment notes at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), based on current legislation and the guidelines of oversight bodies, such as the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) and the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU). A qualitative, descriptive, and documentary research approach was employed, based on content analysis of institutional and regulatory documents and academic publications from 2019 to 2024. Operational flows were mapped and bottlenecks identified, including delays in delivering commitment notes, lack of performance indicators, and fragile interdepartmental communication. In addition, the relevant legislation and guidelines from oversight bodies were analyzed, allowing a comparison of the findings with practices adopted in other Federal Institutions of Higher Education (IFES). The analysis of nine selected studies revealed recurring weaknesses, such as insufficient training of contract supervisors, reliance on manual controls, lack of standardization, and absence of digital tools. These findings guided the development of a clear, digital, and replicable SOP aligned with governance and compliance best practices. The results show that implementing the SOP enhances efficiency in contract management, ensures compliance with legal deadlines, and offers potential for replication in other public institutions, thereby strengthening governance and transparency in public administration.